Summary
Highlights
On Friday, April 14th, Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theater. Booth, an actor and Southern loyalist, gained access to Lincoln's box because the guard had left his post.
Abraham Lincoln was pronounced dead at 7:22 AM the following morning.
It was later discovered that Lincoln's assassination was part of a larger plot involving several co-conspirators. Booth believed that eliminating Lincoln would lead to the South rising again and he would be hailed as a hero. The conspirators also attacked Secretary of State Seward, almost killing him, but failed to reach Vice President Andrew Johnson.
Lincoln's assassination sent shock waves across the entire country. While some Confederates rejoiced, others viewed it as a disaster. Many felt sorrow that Lincoln, who had nearly seen the end of the war, wouldn't be able to share in the peace.
It is suggested that if Lincoln had completed his second term, he would have been a very conciliatory president, aiming to establish peace for all mankind. His death was a tragedy that prevented him from fulfilling this promise.